European Students' Union
Template:Short description Template:More citations needed Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox Students Union Template:Students rights sidebar The European Students' Union (ESU) is the umbrella organisation of 44 national unions of students from 40 countries, representing almost 20 million students.[1][2] A consultative member of the Bologna Process, ESU is also a full member of the European Youth Forum (YFJ).[3]
History
On 17 October 1982, seven National Unions of Students (NUSes) from the United Kingdom, Sweden, Iceland, France, Denmark, Norway and Austria established the Western European Students Information Bureau (WESIB) at a gathering in Stockholm.[4] In February 1990, WESIB dropped the "W" to become the European Student Information Bureau (ESIB) following the political upheaval in Europe at the time. In 1992 the name was changed yet again into the National Union of Students in Europe. This reflected the recognition of the changing mission of ESIB from being a pure information-sharing organisation into a political organisation that represented the views of students in European institutions. In May 2007, the current name, European Students' Union (ESU), was introduced.Template:Fact
Over the years, the office of ESU has moved around Europe and was first hosted by the member NUSes. Following the establishment of WESIB in Stockholm, the office was based in the SFS Office in Sweden from 1982 until 1985, funded by a grant by the Swedish Government. By 1985 the grant was running low, and so NUS UK offered to host WESIB in their London headquarters. In 1988, the office moved to the ÖH offices in Vienna and remained there until 2000 when it was decided that for reasons of being near the European institutions, the office should move to Brussels and was hosted by VVS.Template:Fact
Structures
The highest ESU structure is the "board meeting", bringing together representatives from all the National Unions of Students it represents. The board meeting sets the organisation's policy direction and elects members to the executive committee to run the organisation.Template:Fact
Executive committee
The executive committee (EC) is elected for a one-year term at the annual board meeting by representatives of the member organisations, with each country (not organisation) given two votes. The president and vice-presidents together make up the presidency of ESU, and are responsible for the day-to-day operations of the organisation along with the seven general members of the EC.[5]
As of 2025, the executive committee includes:Template:Fact
| Title | Name | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Presidency | President | Iris Kimizoglu | Template:Country data Germany |
| Vice Presidents | Lana Par | Template:Country data Croatia | |
| Arno Schrooyen | Template:Country data Belgium | ||
| Executive Committee | Duarte Lopes | Template:Country data Portugal | |
| Jens Bartnes | Template:Country data Norway | ||
| Lauren Pray | Template:Country data Czech Republic | ||
| Levente Varga | Template:Country data Hungary | ||
| Lisa Schivalocchi | Template:Country data Italy | ||
| Tamara Ciobanu | Template:Country data Romania | ||
| Nora Angelova | Template:Country data Bulgaria | ||
Member organisations
Candidate members
Candidate-members are NUSes that have submitted an application of membership to ESU but have not yet been granted member status by the Board Meeting. Candidate-members retain their status for one year and are subject to a "study visit" by ESU to ensure they meet membership criteria.
| Country | English Name | Local Name | ESU Abbrev.[nb 1] |
|---|---|---|---|
| Template:Country data North Macedonia | National Students’ Assembly | Државно Студентско Собрание | NSA |
Associate organisations
Associate members of ESU are pan-European and international student organisations that have similar goals to ESU. The criteria for associate membership require the organisation to be democratic and student-run, have either students or NUSes as members, and represent students from at least 8 countries that are parties to the European Cultural Convention. Associate organizations can attend and speak at all ESU meetings, but cannot vote at Board Meetings.[6]
- Association of Norwegian Students Abroad (ANSA)
- European Dental Students Association (EDSA)
- European Deaf Students' Union (EDSU)
- European Nursing Students Association (ENSA)
- European Medical Students' Association (EMSA)
- European Pharmaceutical Students' Association (EPSA)
- European Union of Jewish Students (EUJS)
- Forum of European Muslim Youth and Student Organisation (FEMYSO)
- International Association for Political Science Students (IAPSS)
- International Federation of Medical Students' Associations (IFMSA)
- International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Youth and Student Organisation (IGLYO)
- International Students of History Association (ISHA)
- Organising Bureau of European School Student Unions (OBESSU)
List of executive representatives
Source:[7]Template:Fv
| Year (Mandate) | President | Country | Vice Presidents | Executive Committee | Coordinators (appointed by the executive committee) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024–2025 | Iris Kimizoglu | Template:Country data Germany | Lana Par Template:Country data Croatia | Duarte Lopes, Jens Bartnes, Lauren Pray, Levente Varga, Lisa Schivalocchi, Nora Angelova, Tamara Ciobanu | Estelle Née, Magnus við Streym, Urszula Lis |
| Arno Schrooyen Template:Country data Belgium | |||||
| 2023–2024 | Horia-Șerban Onița | Template:Country data Romania | Iris Kimizoglu Template:Country data Germany | Joanna Maruszczak (until October), Lana Par (substituting Joanna Maruszczak), Andrej Pirjevec, Ana Gvritishvili, Arno Schrooyen, Ida Flemmich, Tamara Ciobanu, Tór Marni Weihe (until October), Magnus við Streym (substituting Tór Marni Weihe) | Emily MacPherson, Bastien Degardins, Lauren Pray |
| Tanguy Guibert Template:Country data France | |||||
| 2022–2023 | Matteo Vespa | Template:Country data Italy | Katrīna Sproģe Template:Country data Latvia | Tanguy Guibert, Iris Kimizoglu, Andrej Pirjevec, Emily MacPherson, Tór Marni Weihe, Oraz Myradov, Ana Gvritishvili | Antoine Bakhash, Joanna Maruszczak, Sandi Rizvić |
| Horia-Șerban Onița Template:Country data Romania | |||||
| 2021–2022 | Martina Darmanin | Template:Country data Malta | Zamzam Ibrahim Template:Country data UK | Matteo Vespa, Kristel Jakobson, Martin Hammerbauer, Pegi Pavletić, Ruben Janssens, Meral Nur, Stanimir Boyadzhiev | Katrīna Sproģe, Borna Nemet, Anastasia Kreis |
| Jakub Grodecki Template:Country data Poland | |||||
| 2021 | Martina Darmanin | Template:Country data Malta | Zamzam Ibrahim Template:Country data UK | Matteo Vespa, Kristel Jakobson, Martin Hammerbauer, Pegi Pavletić, Ruben Janssens, Ronja Hesse, Otto Rosenlund | Vicky Reichling, Borna Nemet, Carmen Romero (until June), Katrīna Sproģe (substituting Carmen Romero) |
| Jakub Grodecki Template:Country data Poland | |||||
| 2019–2020 | Gohar Hovhannisyan
(Oct.-Dec. 2020) |
Template:Country data Armenia | Martina Darmanin Template:Country data Malta | Monika Skadborg, Ursa Leban, Nina De Winter, Rajko Golovic, Helene Mariaud, Daniel Altman, Jakub Grodecki, | Martin Paluoja, Daniel Lindblom (until November), Carmen Romero (substituting Daniel Lindblom) |
| Sebastian Berger Template:Country data Austria | |||||
| Robert Napier
(until Sept. 2020) |
Template:Country data Malta | Gohar Hovhannisyan Template:Country data Armenia | Daniel Altman, Jakub Grodecki, Monika Skadborg, Ursa Leban, Nina De Winter, Rajko Golovic, Helene Mariaud | Martina Darmanin, Daniel Lindblom, Martin Paluoja | |
| Sebastian Berger Template:Country data Austria | |||||
| 2018–2019 | Adam Gajek | Template:Country data Poland | Katrina Koppel Template:Country data Estonia | Daniel Altma, Joāo Martins, Gohar Hovhannisyan, Monika Skadborg, Sebastian Berger, Ursa Leban, Yulia Dobyshuk | Rob Henthorn, Hélène Mariaud, Marie Desrousseaux, (1st part of mandate), Martina Darmanin (substituting Marie Desrousseaux) |
| Robert Napier Template:Country data Malta | |||||
| 2017–2018 | Helge Schwitters | Template:Country data Norway | Caroline Sundberg Template:Country data Sweden | Chiara Patricolo, Aleksandar Šušnjar, Filip Prihoda, Gohar Hovhannisyan, João Pedro Estêvão Martins, Katrina Koppel, Yolanda Trujillo Adriá | Simona Gamonte, Patrick Dempsey, Robert Henthorn |
| Adam Gajek Template:Country data Poland | |||||
| 2016–2017 | Lea Meister | Template:Country data Switzerland | Līva Vikmane Template:Country data Latvia | Beth Button, Gramoz Shpendi, Adam Gajek, Aleksandar Šušnjar, Frederik Bach, Chiara Patricolo, Milana Jankovic (1st part of mandate), Helga Lind Mar (substituting Milana Jankovic) | Melanie Fröhlich, Filip Prihoda, Helge Schwitters |
| Blazhe Todorovski Template:Country data North Macedonia | |||||
| 2015–2016 | Fernando Miguel Galán Palomares | Template:Country data Spain | Lea Meister Template:Country data Switzerland | Liva Vikmane, Karolina Pietkiewicz, Cristi Popescu, Rebecka Stenkvist, Tijana Isoski, Viktor Grønne | Melanie Fröhlich, Chiara Patricolo, Martin Retelj |
| Blazhe Todorovski Template:Country data North Macedonia | |||||
| 2014–2015 | Elisabeth Gehrke | Template:Country data Sweden | Erin Nordal Template:Country data Norway | Blazhe Todorovski, Maksimas Milta, Cat O’Driscoll, Karolina Pietkiewicz, Lea Meister, Tiago Estêvão Martins, Tijana Isoski | Melanie Fröhlich, William Benn, Viktor Grønne |
| Fernando Miguel Galán Palomares Template:Country data Spain | |||||
| 2013–2014 | Rok Primozic | Template:Country data Slovenia | Elisabeth Gehrke Template:Country data Sweden | Fernando Miguel Galán Palomares, Erin Nordal, Elin Blomqvist, Nevena Vuksanovic, Blazhe Todorovski, Maroš Korman, Maksim Milto, Michael Tolentino Frederiksen | Gabriela Bergan, Tiago Estêvão Martins, Aengus Ó Maoláin (1st part of mandate), Melanie Fröhlich (substituting Aengus Ó Maoláin) |
| Fernando Miguel Galán Palomares Template:Country data Spain | |||||
| 2012–2013 | Karina Ufert | Template:Country data Lithuania | Taina Moisander Template:Country data Finland | Fernando M.Galan Palomares, Florian Kaiser, Blazhe Todorovski, Tinja Zerzer, Nevena Vuksanovic, Elisabeth Gehrke, Liliya Ivanova | Aengus Ó Maoláin, Karl Agius, Brikena Xhomaqi (until November 2012), Gabriela Bergan (substituting Brikena Xhomaqi) |
| Rok Primozic Template:Country data Slovenia | |||||
| 2011–2012 | Allan Päll | Template:Country data Estonia | Rok Primozic Template:Country data Slovenia | Nevena Vuksanovic, Kaloyan Kostadinov | |
| 2010–2011 | Bert Vandenkendelaere | Template:Country data Belgium | Rasa Cincyte Template:Country data Lithuania | Robert Santa, Karina Ufert | |
| 2009–2010 | Ligia Deca | Template:Country data Romania | Allan Päll Template:Country data Estonia | Andrea Blättler, Alma Joensen, Bert Vandenkendelaere | |
| 2008–2009 | Ligia Deca | Template:Country data Romania | Anita Lice Template:Country data Latvia | Bruno Carapinha, Alma Joensen, Olav Øye | |
| 2007 | Koen Geven | Template:Country data The Netherlands | Anela Beso, Bartlomiej Banaszak, Lara Lena Tischler, Maria Noleryd, Matthew Tabone, Viorel Proteasa, Rossella Iraci Capuccinello | ||
| 2006 | Justin Fenech | Template:Country data Malta | Maher Tekaya, Sime Visic, Marja-Liisa Alop, Tatsiana Khoma, Victor Vidilles, Janja Komljenovic | ||
| 2005 | Vanja Ivosevic | Template:Country data Croatia | Öyvind Reidar Bakke, Justin Fenech, Marzia Foroni, Katja Kamsek, Jean-Baptiste Prévost, Marija Stambolieva | ||
| 2004 | Johan Almqvist | Template:Country data Sweden | Marzia Foroni, Lene Henriksen, Vanja Ivosevic, Péter Puskás, Robin Semal, Chris Weavers | ||
| 2003 | Stefan Bienefeld | Template:Country data Germany | Johan Almqvist, Mads Aspelin, Nikki Heerens, Vanja Ivosevic, Marija Mitrovic, Bettina Schwarzmayr | ||
| 2002 | Martina Vukasovic | Template:Country data Serbia | Petra Arsic, Stefan Bienefeld, John C. Friend-Pereira, Chris O’Sullivan | ||
| 2001 | Jacob Henricson | Template:Country data Sweden | Stefan Bienefeld, Ante Matic, Marlous Veldt, Martina Vukasovic | ||
| 2000 | Remi Bordu | Template:Country data France | Polona Car, Aleksandar Dimiskov, Magne Hustavenes, Taru Liira | ||
| 1999 | Antti Pentikäinen | Template:Country data Finland | Remi Bourdu, Anja Kovacs, Marieke Rietbergen, Uros Vajgl | ||
| 1998 | Peter Sondgaard | Template:Country data Denmark | Antti Pentikäinen, Judith Sargentini, Emese Szitasi, Hilde W. Wibe | ||
| 1997 | Agnieszka Bolimowska | Template:Country data Poland | Malcolm Byrne, Outi Hannula, Helena Randerborg, Reuben Seychell | ||
| 1994 - 1996 | Stephen Grogan | Template:Country data UK |
Prior to 1997 ESIB was Chaired by a NUS instead of an individual, though its first director was employed in 1994.
| Year | Union | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Hökosz | Template:Country data Hungary |
| 1995 | SYL | Template:Country data Finland |
| 1994 | SYL | Template:Country data Finland |
| 1993 | SFS | Template:Country data Sweden |
| 1992 | SFS | Template:Country data Sweden |
| 1991 | VVS-UNES | Template:Country data Switzerland |
| 1990 | NUS (UK) | Template:Country data United Kingdom |
| 1989 | NUS (UK) | Template:Country data United Kingdom |
| 1988 | ÖH | Template:Country data Austria |
Notable people
- Ligia Deca, Minister of Education (Romania)
- Carmen Ria Smith, Baroness Smith of Llanfaes, member of the House of Lords (United Kingdom)
See also
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Notes
References
External links
Template:European Students' Union Template:European Youth Forum Template:Authority control
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